General Requirements

As a rural property owner, you may be subject to one or more zoning and land use laws administered by the Marquette County Zoning Office. This web page is designed to briefly explain these laws which are in place to protect you, your property, and to protect public health and the environment of Marquette County. This webpage is not intended to nor can it fully explain all of the programs administered by the Zoning Office. More information can be obtained by contacting the Zoning Office.

The Marquette County General Zoning Ordinance is in effect in all unincorporated areas of the County except the following Towns; Buffalo, Shields and Springfield. The Marquette County Shoreland Zoning Ordinance is in effect throughout the County in areas within 1000 feet of a navigable lake or within 300 feet of a navigable creek, stream or river. The Marquette County Floodplain Ordinance applies to all areas of the County designated on the FIRM flood insurance rate map.

Zoning permits are required in these areas for any construction which involves construction of 100 ft2 or greater. In the areas of the county not under the jurisdiction of the Zoning Office, the Town Clerk should be contacted for permit requirements. In addition, when a sanitary permit is required, it must be obtained before a zoning permit will be issued.

The minimum setback from the ordinary high-water mark and wetland boundary is 75 feet. This setback applies to all navigable waters in the County and to all wetlands in the Townships that have adopted the Marquette County General Zoning Ordinance. The Zoning Office should be contacted for assistance in determining the ordinary high-water mark and for establishing a wetland boundary.

The Marquette County Sanitary Ordinance is administered by the Zoning Office and governs the installation of septic systems in all areas of the County not served by municipal sewer. A sanitary permit is required for the installation, repair, altering or reconnection of any septic system in the County. All work must be done by a licensed, qualified plumber. All soil tests for designing the system must be done by a state certified soil tester. In addition, a property owner is required to sign a maintenance agreement for their new system. Following are the setback requirements for construction near a septic system.
Minimum Setbacks Drainage Septic

In those areas of the County under the jurisdiction of the Marquette County General Zoning Ordinance, the storage and parking of travel trailer/recreational vehicles on vacant land or land without a primary residence is not permitted between December 1st and April 15th. When camping during other times of the year, proper sanitary and waste disposal must be provided. Please contact the Zoning Office if you would like more information.

In many cases, a property owner is able to apply for a permit to keep the camping unit the property year round, subject to certain restrictions.

In those areas under the jurisdiction of the Marquette County Zoning Office, the minimum size requirement for a dwelling is 20 feet wide and 900 ft2. In addition, the placement of a mobile home is only allowed in a licensed mobile home park. The only exception is if it is replacing an existing mobile home. In that case, it requires a Special Exception permit through a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment. Please contact the Zoning Office for public hearing and Special Exception permit information.

In all unincorporated areas of the County, a certified survey map is required for the creation of any new lot, which is 15 acres or less. In addition, all new lots must have an access, with a minimum width of 66 feet, to a public road. There are additional requirements for creating more than 4 lots of 5 acres or less in a period of 5 years. Please contact the Zoning Office for more information.

This webpage is intended to be a brief overview of the regulations administered by the Marquette County Zoning Office. Before beginning any construction or land use project, the Zoning Office should be contact for information on applicable rules.

As a rural property owner, you may be subject to one or more zoning and land use laws administered by the Marquette County Zoning Office. This webpage is designed to briefly explain these laws which are in place to protect you, your property, and to protect public health and the environment of Marquette County. This webpage is not intended to nor can it fully explain all of the programs administered by the Zoning Office. More information can be obtained by contacting the Zoning Office.